Selling online only works if customers can pay easily. In Sri Lanka, the right mix is usually more than one option, because customers have different habits and different levels of trust. Here is how to think about it.
Your main options
Card payments through a payment gateway
A payment gateway lets customers pay with a Visa or Mastercard on your site, then passes the money to your bank. Sri Lankan options include gateways run by local payment companies such as PayHere, and gateways offered by some banks. Many accept payments in Sri Lankan rupees, and some can also take foreign currency.
Good for: customers who are comfortable paying by card, overseas buyers, and any business that wants orders confirmed instantly.
Bank transfer
The customer pays into your bank account and sends the receipt. It costs nothing in fees, but orders are slow to confirm and need manual checking.
Good for: high-value orders, B2B buyers and customers who do not use cards.
Cash on delivery
The customer pays the courier when the parcel arrives. It builds trust for new shops, and many Sri Lankan customers expect it.
The trade-offs: returned parcels cost you the delivery both ways, and fake orders are easier. Consider limiting it to certain areas, or asking for a small advance on large orders.
Mobile wallets and payment apps
Where they are available, wallets can speed up checkout for customers who already use them. Check what each gateway supports before you promise a payment method on your site.
What to check before choosing a gateway
- Fees. Look at the percentage per transaction and any monthly or set-up charge
- Settlement time. How many days before the money reaches your bank?
- Currency. Does it accept rupees only, or foreign currency too? Overseas customers need the second
- Cards supported. Visa, Mastercard, and which local cards
- Approval process. You will usually need business documents and a working website with clear policies before you are approved
- Platform support. Does it work with your shop software? This differs between WordPress with WooCommerce, Shopify and custom builds, and some payment options available elsewhere are not available in Sri Lanka, so check this first
- Support and disputes. How fast do they respond, and how are chargebacks handled?
What your website needs before a gateway will approve it
Gateways want to see a real business. Prepare:
- A clear About and Contact page with real details
- A privacy policy and terms, including refund and delivery policies. See our own privacy policy and terms as an example of what to cover
- Product pages with clear prices
- A secure site on HTTPS
Keep the checkout safe and simple
- Use the gateway's hosted payment page or official plugin, so card numbers never touch your server
- Keep the checkout short, and make it work on a phone, since most of your customers are on one
- Show delivery cost before the last step, not after
- Send an order confirmation email straight away
- Keep the site secure and updated. A hacked shop loses trust fast. Our security care covers this
Which platform should you use?
Platform choice affects which payment options you can use. Our guide to WordPress, Shopify or custom for an online store compares them, and we explain the payment trade-offs before you decide.
Next step
We set up online shops with the payment options that suit your market, and confirm what your chosen provider supports before work starts. See our online shops in Sri Lanka or ask for a quote.
